India, Dec. 17 -- Here are the top trends for 2026 in the manufacturing industry, with AI playing a key role.

India is at a pivotal moment in its mission to become a developed nation, with the government strongly promoting the manufacturing sector as a key pillar of this vision. According to NITI Aayog's National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, AI is set to transform manufacturing in India by enabling predictive maintenance, enhancing quality control, and optimizing supply chains, thereby, improving operational efficiency and competitiveness.

Following experimentation with AI in 2024 and conceptual development in 2025, organizations are now poised to move toward full-scale AI operationalization in 2026. I see these three trends ac...